My recently laid-off best friend call me this evening

[FirstLight]

saying "There's NO jobs out there... I check every day, Craigslist, the paper, the EDD..."
All I could do was echo "I know... I knoooow... I KNOW!"

...and not just in our little mountainous neck of the woods, but even looking in larger nearby cities is depressing. And then we have to figure in that with a bigger market, there's more competition.

I have not had a 40 hr week job since 2007, and have been bouncing between PT gigs for the past three years.
She just got laid off from a high paying local govt job, where she had been hired directly out of community college. she has no BA, but was making close to $25/hr... and now the jobs she isn't even qualified for want a BA and start at $10...

yep, I told her, that's what it is out there...

Been squeaking by most of my adult life, but yes the past two years are harder than ever. The holidays always demonstrate to me how little 'disposable' income I have, but the day to day scraping for gas or whatnot has become the norm.

I love my friend, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news, because it ain't gettin' any better out there...no matter WHAT the statistics say... I honestly don't know what the answer is, either... Today I paid part of my rent, and have till the 15th to come up with the balance. I have backup because I have family nearby who would help, but it feels lower than low to scrape like this ALL.THE.TIME.

I think I upset my friend by telling her to brace herself for foodstamps...

[tridim]

1. There are lots of jobs, just too many people looking for them.

Why would you have to brace your friend for food stamps? It's nothing to be ashamed of.

[FirstLight]

6. sorry

to clarify... we were both single moms on welfare back in college days...and she has been doing awesome since then, this would be a step 'backwards' for her...but ya, poverty is the new normal i guess...

[Bluenorthwest]

35. So rather than more jobs the idea is less people? You say too many people, lots of

jobs. That seems to suggest that the issue lies with the population. The thing is, there are not enough jobs. Not too many people. That rhetorical twist is dangerous, it contains the seeds of 'let's get rid of some people' and in history, 'too many people for our many jobs' has excused a few wars, a few pogroms, some laws denying employment to this group or to that group.
Plenty of jobs, just too many humans! It is the humans that are the issue, not the jobs as there are lots of jobs.
To me, really creepy phraseology. Just too many people. If only there was some form of solution, final or at least stop gap.....too many people.....

[tridim]

36. I'm saying there are too many people out of work looking for jobs, not too many people in general.

Though taken as a separate subject, yes population is out of control. It has been for a long time now. It's not a new idea.

There is also the issue of robots and computers that have replaced millions of jobs that humans used to do. As a former web developer I wrote software that essentially put me out of a job based on the automation it provided.

[gateley]

46. I knew what you meant. That response to your post was unwarranted, IMO. nt

[lunatica]

52. Your comment was perfectly understandable and didn't

come close to what the poster implied.

[sivansanabliss]

38. 300 million people is ENOUGH!!!! Yeah, I said it!

Why does it have to be the Final Solution? How about Cana-DUH?

[chervilant]

59. Please,

avoid promulgating a myth like "there are lots of jobs." Understand, too, that the pitifully small number of jobs that are now available offer BARELY a living wage, and few benefits.

As far as the rest of your unsupportable assertion -- "just too many people looking for them" -- overpopulation is not causally linked with our nation's serious shortage of jobs, at least not yet.

Effective activism is rarely commensurate with intellectual laziness...

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. It is getting better from jobs statistics but....

1.- What you have found, part time gigs, is the new normal.

2.- 10 bucks/ hour service jobs are also the new normal.

When you need to grow the economy with spending, but at the same time flatten wages...somewhere this is not sustainable.

Of course point number three

The unemployment numbers are better, just don't look into the U6 set of statistics.

In the big picture this will help somewhat. But the middle class is dying. 10 bucks/ hour jobs are not mc jobs. It's not even living wage category.

[FirstLight]

5. exactly

$10/hr part time will still qualify you for assistance these days...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I can't disagree with you. nt

[Sherman A1]

64. I make it a point to never disagree with

Nadin..... when she is right and I have found that she is always right.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

66. Nadin is amazing

And she's an OCCUPIER! Love that about her.

[Sherman A1]

78. +1000

[fasttense]

30. Though more jobs were added according to the BLS, wages declined

and the average length of time to find a new job is 40 weeks. That decline in wages was after adjustments for inflation were made so it probably declined a whole lot more because the inflation rate has been jiggered so many times it's almost meaningless.

So, what jobs were added barely provide a living and it took a hell of lot of time to find one of those mystical, magical jobs. My husband was laid off in 2007 and he finally gave up 2 years into the search. He started his own business but it barely sees a profit.

The unemployment rate here is over 10% which is a whole lot better than it was in 2009 when it was 17.9%.

So things are pretty awful because the middle class jobs are all gone and all we got are crappy little jobs to replace them. So, if you like crappy little jobs that don't pay a living wage, you are in luck.

[JoeyT]

65. 1099s seem to be the new normal.

Freaking everyone is using them now, even when they're not supposed to be.

Hey, why bother hiring a new employee when you can make the one you've got work dozens of hours of unpaid overtime and completely ignore all labor laws?
Sure it's illegal to make real employees independent contractors, but good luck getting anywhere reporting it.

[Sirveri]

72. U6 dropped 1.4%. But I'm not seeing that.

It really doesn't make any sense, things cost more now, and everyone is paying the employees less. Where the hell is the money going.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. k&r

[getdown]

4. perfect snapshot

[FirstLight]

7. ya

thanks... I guess I was a little pissed when i saw some headline that says Unemployment is 'down'...cuz we sure ain't feelin' it!

[izquierdista]

26. The reason it is down.....

....is because they don't count the people that have fallen off the end.

[surfdog]

43. Oh please , the same old argument

I don't have a job therefore things are not getting better for the nation

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Courage to you and your

friend, FirstLight. Don't let the system drag you down.

A decent morale is essential for good health, and you can't do much if your health starts to go.

Look after yourself. Be good to yourself in little ways.
SG

[getdown]

9. tough times in many ways

this is brilliant advice

[Surya Gayatri]

13. My advice comes from first-hand experience, getdown.

It sounds a bit like New Age psycho-babble, but positivity really does make a difference--
whether in our personal lives or in public and political life.
SG

[getdown]

17. abso

lutely

[FirstLight]

12. thanks much

I usually have a grip on things, but today was just a low point in a series of tough spots... and my health is on the mend lately, for the most part.

But I am truly hoping somehow, no matter what the odds, I can turn it around this year. Something's gotta give...

[Surya Gayatri]

18. Keep thinking like this, my dear,

and things will change for the better, one way or another. Our thoughts create our reality. You will make it! SG

[blondie58]

22. i want to thank you Surya Gayatri

For the positive message that you have left on this thread. I also am a believer in that sort of "psycho babble".

[Surya Gayatri]

24. Thanks, blondie. I just know

I feel a hell of lot better when I follow my own advice. I have a real dark streak that I do battle with constantly. LOL!
SG

[FirstLight]

25. +100

...positive vibes are always appreciated!

[FarLeftFist]

10. The private sector has this country by the balls. They REFUSE to take slightly less profits to

Help our citizens. They've been spoiled by cheap non-union labor here and in foreign countries. They will not rest until they can make us all slaves here in the U.S. just like they do in other countries.

[ellisonz]

11. It's pretty bad out there...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. First, corporations moved jobs to China. They're still selling us products tho

And you're right, there are no jobs out there.

I hope things get better for you and your friend. I can't believe what we've allowed corporations to do to our country.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. My son is working and we have to help him and his family. I feel bad for him but it is a strain on

my husband and I. His wife wants to go back to school. He is a cook but they treat him like a manager. He is paid as high as they can pay him but won't give him any more raises. I feel bad for him. He has graduated high school. He lives next door. He doesn't have to pay rent. Right now they don't have any heat in the house because the system needs to be fixed. They are waiting to get their income taxes and all the money they will get from that will go to fix it $3,000 aprox.. His wife said she was going to go for food stamps. He is to embrassed. I told him not to be there are tons of people who never were on it before that are forced to go on it. There is no shame. In fact I think now people in the middle class realize what the work class people were struggling with all this time. There is no shame I told him. You have to do what you have to do for your family.

[FirstLight]

19. so sorry that your story is so common...

It is nothing to be embarassed about to need help with food. and that can really make a big difference in what $ you have left for gas, bills, etc...

I guess we all have to pull together and make it through somehow....good luck to you and him

[southernyankeebelle]

21. There was a time I would have died if I had to do that. However, I am older and wiser and if I had

to do it I sure would. I feel bad for my son but I told him all these years you have paid into all these programs and he shouldn't feel sad. Thank the good lord that it is there. When I go shopping at the grocery store they have this barrel by the front of the store where you can pick up a bag that has can goods in it. You pay $5.00 and put it in another barrel. I always think to myself by the grace of god it could be me. I don't look down on anyone because it is ruff out there for many people. I do feel blessed that the good lord has given me the possibility to help my son. During the holidays I don't give to the church. I find ways myself. There is a need out there. I just do it and leave my name off of it. That is the best way because if you just give to one charity then all of a sudden everyone is calling you. Don't do it. It is non-stop.

[Surya Gayatri]

20. Good advice, SYB. There is no shame

in accepting a leg up in tough times.
Tell him to try and see it in a positive way--he's doing the honorable thing to ensure his and his family's viability.
SG

[southernyankeebelle]

23. Thank you. Yes I would agree with you. There is no shame in asking for help.

[Tsiyu]

27. It's a fulltime job not freaking out

Had a job interview today. Jobs are picking up around here, but I can relate to the gas issue. I rolled pennies and drove 45 on a state highway (flashers going - it's a deserted road, luckily) just to conserve fuel.

The interview went well, and I am hopeful, but I'm afraid the power will be cut off before I hear if I got the job. I'm making lemonade out of the lemons as I realize it's been a mild winter so far, and I'll have a tax refund soon.

BTW, indeed.com is a useful website. It saves your advanced searches and shows you the new jobs since you posted last; I found this job for which I interviewed today on craigslist. But, like you said, a lot of employers want degrees for close-to-minimum wage positions.

(As if it's not hard enough, there are people preying on job seekers. My spam filter caught one today, but I clicked anyway. Mollie Harris from the "Harris Clark" agency is just a credit check funnel. So it's also another job just screening the crap showing up in the inbox.)

My best wishes to all who need work, including your friend. It's a fulltime job to keep from freaking out. My heart is with everyone who is burdened with bills they don't know how to pay. Especially those like you with little ones.

[southernyankeebelle]

32. Sure hope that you get the job your are looking for. Here where I live we been pretty lucky with

weather being mild.

[Tsiyu]

39. Thanks southernyankeebelle

I have always loved your name, BTW

[southernyankeebelle]

40. Thank you. let us know. You know the saying something is better than nothing. I have a strong

feeling that is the way the future is going to be. It really saddens me for my grandchilldren. I wish they could of experience the wonderful childhood I had travelling the world as a child and across these beautiful states of america. When life really was like a box of choclates. Gods knows what its going to be like for them when they grow up in this crazy world we have now of red and blue states. We ever would have thought that before Kennedy died. Once he died life changed for all of us.

[Tsiyu]

42. Fortunately all of my kids are doing pretty well

without any help from me, of course. They're getting degrees, but not so much work yet.

My cousin in NY wants me to move back there and move in with him til I find something, but then I hear jobs aren't much more plentiful in Upstate NY either.

Thanks for your encouragement, and yeah, if I get this job, I will make less than I did working when Clinton was president. And I had benefits, 401K etc back then. They just look at you blankly if you ask about benefits these days.

[southernyankeebelle]

48. What bennies? LOL today I think you'd be happy just to have a paycheck. This is the future. One

suggestion I'd make. Try not to move until you are very very sure. No matter how much you love your cousin or your brothers and sisters living on someoneelse terms is very hard no matter how much you love them. You can over stay your welcome. Sounds like you had a very good paying job. Are you prepared that you might not find something with bennies? You already know that your going to get paid less. I have a strong feeling that is the way of the future. I hope things work for you kids after graduation. I have twin nieces that are in college. The one is going to be a dentist and the other wants to teach in dentistry of some type. They will be lucky I think because their mother (my sister) is a dentist and has her own practice. My husband retired from the military and am now retired. I retired early 62. I have some health issues. But god had his ideas. Like on many occasions my husband said god plants us where he wants us to bloom. I hated it here at first because it is in the rural area. Now you can pull me away. I sorta feel safe.

[Tsiyu]

49. I love my little farm

It's paid for. And most of my neighbors are cool.

But sometimes I get sick of the racism, and sick of the apathy, and sick of working in a state with no unions.

Had I worked all these years in NY, I could look forward to decent pay and a pension some day.

I have a lot of family all over the country, but I miss Upstate NY and the northeast a lot. I miss the conversations and the way people actually cared about politics instead of just letting the politicians screw them blind.

But then I hear Upstate NY has its share of teabaggers, so I don't now if I'd be happy there either. The plan is to live here a few more years and then go to Vermont.

Good luck to your nieces.

[southernyankeebelle]

51. I am from the east coast myself (Maryland). My dad retired from the military in Md. Yes I agree

with the racism, and I live in Tn where it is a right to work state. You say union to any of these people than they go off the deep end and I go right back at them. I tell them they should thank union workers for everything they have. Shame on them. I love NY especially the city. Great place to visit, not that I would want to live there though. Love all the excitement and meeting different people of different cultures. Yes and having great conversations. The people here are nice hard working but I'm not into the things they are. Our house is paid for but sure needs an awful lot of work. Money I don't have. But we live simple. We don't ask for much. We have Direct TV and our computers. We have 12 acres. My in-laws use to have cattle. Not anymore. But its nice. We live in the middle of nursery country. We have nothing but nurseries.

[Tsiyu]

68. Where are you in TN? If you don't mind saying

There are a lot of nurseries here; infact, the job interview was for a position with a nursery. I will love working with the plants if it works out and I am chosen.

Upstate NY is very much like TN in some ways with the hills and the farms. My cuz is an avid hunter/outdoorsman and lives close to Canada, and I miss that country of my childhood.

TN is beautiful country, too, and I have some very dear friends here. The cost of living is low and there is so much to do outdoors. But, like you said, they are so anti-union and the workers get really screwed over here in this "Right to Work" state.

One of these days we need to do a TN meetup.

And now I fear I have hijacked FL's thread enough.

Peace to you, southernyankeebelle

[southernyankeebelle]

73. Have you heard of Manchester, TN. I don't live to far from there. Summertime is

beautiful here. Winter is depressing. Good luck to you also.

[getdown]

47. meditation and exercise help

accepting what is and keep moving, not giving energy to giving in

IT'S TOUGH !!!

[Tsiyu]

50. Yeah, the OP's friend will hopefully find something soon

I hope she can get some assistance and accept that, I also have read of the OP's struggles and wish life could turn around for all of us.

There are a lot of us just sick of scraping by, but I'm thankful for what I do have.

Thanks for the encouragement

[getdown]

57. encouragement

and gratitude for what we have

[FirstLight]

54. seriously!

I wake up at 5 am and have to try not to lay there and freak out...

Good luck ion that interview/position...it's a helluva thing when you are waiting too. and then, like you said, there's the wait for the first paycheck.

(I've checked out the site you mentioned, and agree there's also a lot of predation going on as well...and don't even get me started on how I think background and credit checks and drug testing by employers are bullshit! They know if you refuse to take their invasion of privacy, there's 20 people lined up behind you who are more than willing to do whatever it takes... it's hard when you want to work, but feel like you may have to sell your soul to go there...)

hang in there, we are all pulling for you too!

[Tsiyu]

69. It's crazy, because you feel like you should be freaking out

But then you know if you do, you only waste energy you need to look for work.

Thank you so much for your support. I have sent out so many resumes and applications over the past six months and this is the first interview so far. Trying to get out of the chef gigs, for many reasons. A former boss called me twice on two seperate occasions at 6 in the morning begging me to come bake, but I am just not going to break my body down any more. So changing careers is crazy right now. And, like you said, some companies are so invasive in their hiring process, I just won't go there.

But I have received so much gunk in my inbox that it just galls me - people actually exploiting people who are honestly looking for work. It's sickening.

Talked to my best friend today whose son and bf are both currently laid off, and they are both depressed. "I've got a house full of depressed men," she said. But they were able to get food stamps recently, and she said at least they have a kitchen full of good food. It makes a difference when there's no money coming in and you don't have anything decent to eat either. You get discouraged and weak eating pancakes all week.

It's an endess cycle of despair. So she is trying to remind her men that at least they can eat well. Hope your friend will accept that help if it comes to it.

I hope you find fulltime, good-paying work soon, FIrstlight. And I hope your friend does as well. You are very talented.

[FirstLight]

70. pulling for you and your friend too...

dammit ...something in my eye...

[Tsiyu]

71. Aw Baby

Another insomniac, huh?

You are probably one of the most honest people on this forum. You tell the absolute truth always.

Keep writing. I see you writing an awesome chidren's book some day. I know it's hard with kids to find the time and peace to write, but you have a lot of talent, and I would love to see you publish something.

I did some writing for McGraw Hill for the educational testing and they paid pretty well, although you had to wait awhile. I sold some poetry and nonfiction. Now I think they pay via paypal, but back then (10 years ago) they paid by check.

Here's the PDF for their guidelines. I can definitely see you doing some work for them in your (lol) spare time:

http://sandbox.ctb.com/media/articles/pdfs/general/guidelines.pdf

IIRC, they paid me very well but they do buy all rights.

[FirstLight]

74. insomnia...lol

ya, that's what you call it! I tend to stay up too late (sometimes imbibing) just to make it easier to go to sleep and NOT dream or wake up worrying. typical..

and last night, after going to bed by 1:30...the kidlet wakes up puking at 3:30 and goes till 6am...i am so thrashed today I want to cry! AND now I have to clean my house double what I originally had planned... I was hoping to do some writing and other job-type stuff to be ready to jump forward tomorrow. (kids finally go back after holiday break) ...now , meh...

the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak! ;P

thanks for the hugs, backatcha

[coalition_unwilling]

28. All the hoo-haa about a .1% drop in the unemployment rate (and the

addition of 200,000 private-sector jobs) in December 2011 disguises a brutal reality which your friend's story captures. The jobs being added by the private sector are not as good as the jobs being cut by the public sector (of whom your friend is but one victim).

In 2012, the pace of public-sector layoffs will accelerate and there is nothing in the pipeline to slow it down.

Again, it should be noted, the new private sector jobs are generally speaking not as good as the public sector jobs being eliminated. So expect the economy to continue its stagnation and dead-cat bounces through January 2013, when new Congress is seated and President Obama re-inaugurated.

[Digit]

29. You are a good friend to warn her of this, you were being honest

Those of us looking for month after month have already discovered the truth. The jobs available don't pay anything near what you once made and generally offer no benefits. Where I live, friends and family members get the choice jobs as it is in who you know.

I fell off the unemployment rolls several weeks ago and I am thoroughly disgusted the media chooses to label us as "people who have stopped looking". Just because someone doesn't qualify for unemployment anymore, that doesn't mean we gave up!!

You know this stuff, but tell her to keep perfecting her resume and change it around from time to time. It might not be a bad idea for instance if she wanted to work for the county to see if she could volunteer there to get known.

Sometimes there are networking programs offered through the churches and you can get on their mail list to get first shot at jobs that come up.

I hope she finds something suitable soon, for her and her families sake.

[Zalatix]

31. There are people on this forum who believe we should accept a lower standard of living

to help those who are getting American jobs overseas.

I wonder if they will ever summon the courage to respond to this.

[treestar]

44. So why don't you say who in this forum believes that?

And proof of that "belief."

You are fixated on this one issue, but there is not much to panic about. How about where we steal "Swedish jobs?" Should those investors go back to Sweden?

If those jobs "belong" to us, then we should quit buying what was manufactured via them in China. Our lifestyle is hardly going down. Who is buying all those iPads made in China?

We should boycott all doctors (those medical transcription jobs going to India).

After all Indians and Chinese people are not human and have no right to participate in the modern economy. They should stay on the farms.

[U4ikLefty]

55. "Our lifestyle is hardly going down." Are you for real?

What a disgusting post.

[treestar]

58. How is our lifestyle going down due to manufacturing in China, etc.?

We can still buy the crap.

And if it's going down, how are we to expect the Chinese to sympathize?

Your post is the disgusting one, assuming that we having even the slightest problem means others should stay in primitive circumstances.

If jobs in China all meant net loss of one job here, then we'd have 100% unemployment here. So it's an increase in the number of jobs on the planet overall.

[Romulox]

61. I don't think the poster *is* "for real"; she will not engage with any facts, links, etc. nt

[Romulox]

60. Dictionary definition of "leading with your chin". nt

[Zalatix]

81. It's against the rules to single out a poster.

But since I have brought you up on this issue a number of times and you've stopped responding as soon as I've thrown you the hard questions, let's do it again.

You wrote this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=52324

Well I recall the statistic that Americans as %5 of the population were using 30% of the world's resources. Environmentalists thought that a bad thing - something Americans should feel guilty about. So it is not that simply as issue. Maybe as a nation we should lower our standards so the third world can do better - what is it about third world people that they must live in squalor so we can live in relative luxury (people are often desperate to migrate here, remember that).

Of course a specific person will say "my job is lost for it" but the Chinese guy could say "why should I remain in third world poverty so that some American can keep a nice job?"

Maybe some of it should come at our expense. We are like the 1% in world terms.

I previously responded to you in particular:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=59080

what will the poor nations of the world do when America runs out of jobs to give them? What will they do when our economy, the vein they've been feeding off of, collapses?

You stopped responding after I asked you that. I wonder why.

[ciaoant1]

33. Working for free

Workers are becoming so desperate that some of them are even working for free

http://whataboutmarx.blogspot.com/2012/01/restoring-competitiveness-by-even.html

[blondie58]

34. thank you FirstLight

I just reread this thread and comments.
What I came. Away with was how the average American is being screwed by business, who really just want serfs.

I am struck by how many intelligent, hardworking, strong people are on DU and how unfair things are.

I wish you and your friend best wishes.

[bvar22]

37. There was a time in America...

...when a non-college grad, blue collar American could:

*Find and keep a good paying job with benefits

*Enjoy long term security at that job

*Earn enough to raise a family in comfort with one parent working

*Provide GOOD Health Care to the family

*Buy & Pay Off a decent home in the suburbs

*Buy a new American made car every few years

*Take the family on a REAL traveling vacation every year

*Save enough to retire in dignity and comfort

*Send his/her children to the State University without going into debt.



There WAS a time in America when:

*anybody could attend the State University and graduate DEBT FREE
if willing to work a part time job.

*our government prevented LARGE, Out of State Corporations from moving into our towns and undercutting the local business owners.

*our government forbid "too big to fail"

*our government protected American workers, industries and jobs

*our government ensured a level playing field for Mom & Pop businesses

During those times, the top income bracket paid between 70% and 90%,
our government "regulated" business and trade,
and kept our jobs at home.


We could have all that again,
IF we had a Political Party that represented the American Working Class.






You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green][center]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[treestar]

41. The statistics are based on methodology though

Also different parts of the country will have different experience from the average for the country.

One person's experience cannot trump the stats. I feel bad for that person's frustration, but things are improving. I'm not going to pretend they are not because of one person.

[Festivito]

45. Recent reports say jobs are back to where Bush left us and Obama began, except for one thing:

Instead of losing jobs last month, this month and next month as it was under Bush, we're looking at gaining jobs, gaining jobs and gaining jobs each month!

Now, that's a hopey changy thing I LIKE!

[joeglow3]

53. Where do you live?

A friend of mine is a PT here and has left his job for a higher paying job 3 times in the last 3 years.

[FirstLight]

56. It's still amazing to me there are those who poo-poo the jobs situation...

Like my story is only an anomaly, or that geography has something to do with it.

FWIW - i live between CA/NV and both state are in the toilet as far as unemployment percentages. Being a single mom, up and moving somewhere things are 'better' (even reno or sacramento) is a very scary thing. I refuse to uproot my kids unless I find something 'career-worthy' because I am not going to move somewhere only to get 'downsized' after 6 mos... of course, defining career these days is a hysterical concept. I am 42 years old, and am still looking at jobs in reception or office assisting that I was doing 20 years ago in college... i can't seem to move UP and i find it humiliating to be this old and this smart and still at 'entry-level'.
Now, is working in a cubicle for a bigger company better? Or is it better to look at start-ups or smaller companies where there may be more growth?
who the fuck knows!

At least living in this place between work and not has helped me develop the 'hustle'...where I can work three or four little gigs to try and stay afloat. It's not any kind of stability, but at least it makes me feel like I am trying to get out of the freaking hole...and $20 here & there helps keep gas in the car. But it does nothing for my sense of being able to even hold a 'real' job. I wonder now if I would be able to handle 9-5 or if I would go mad...not to mention, if the kids get sick, i am screwed anyway, cuz there is no such thing as 'sick child care' so I have settled for the hustle to be available for them too...

sorry to rant... it is just that so many of us are sinking and there is really no land in sight

[ddeclue]

62. If your friend has tech skills things are looking better. Best place in the country is suburban DC

Unemployment in Fairfax and Loudon County VA <4%. Similar in Maryland. It has been this low all along. I went up there for a year between March 2010 and April 2011 on a contract. Who says government can't create jobs? They certainly do around DC.

Manhattan is doing pretty well based on my recent visit up there.

Midwest has low unemployment but simply because everyone is in agriculture and already has a job and nothing really ever changed there.

Silicon valley (San Jose, Palo Alto) doing well if you are a techie.

Florida sucks, Nevada sucks, Michigan sucks (unless you have specialized engineering skills). South Florida is better than North and Middle Florida though.

Generally employment sucks between November and April in the last few years but right now the tech market has really heated up. I have a really good work at home job right now as an engineer from my house in Florida and I get calls all the time about others but this was not true in 2008, 2009, and 2010 at this point.

Gotta get a college degree in a technical skill! (Engineering, physician, nurse, computer science)

Nursing is a really hot field also everywhere in America even where unemployment is otherwise high and it is hard to outsource.

[chervilant]

63. OMG!

First of all, I can totally relate to your personal experience. I am a math teacher--MATH! So, I should be a shoe-in for a teaching position, right? Wrongo! I am over 50 (56 yesterday), and I have a master's degree. Our hopey-changey prez has installed Arne Duncan as SecEd, and they are pressuring schools to hire newly-minted 20-something TFAers over us older, veteran teachers. Thus, I've been un- or under-employed since June 2009. Now, my unemployment benefits have been cut to the bone, and I can no longer afford to maintain a separate household. In two weeks, I'll be moving in with a friend, and I will have sold or freecycled at least two-thirds of my belongings.

Second, watch the 'reports' and 'statistics' on the alleged 'economic recovery.' Folks tend to forget that our economic behaviors continue unabated during economic downturns (AND, certain people get ever MORE wealthy). Plus, we're led to believe that booms and busts are cyclical; thus, we MUST be witnessing a recovery. Hmph! Sure, we will see jobs created over the next few months, but -- as has already been noted upthread -- the majority of these 'new' jobs will offer barely a living wage, and few bennies. I predict we'll see a plethora of revisionist reports after the elections, encouraging us to 'eat our peas' and 'tighten our belts,' while our paternalistic 'leaders' struggle to save our economy from whichever party has lost the election.

Furthermore, our 'leaders' and 'economists' have learned to feed us the 'recovery' pablum whenever it most suits their political agendas. It's election year! No WONDER we are seeing an increase in 'recovery' stories. It hurts my heart that so many members of the Hoi Polloi are eager to lap up the corporatists' recovery red herrings, and so QUICK to denigrate those of us who view such reports with skepticism.

Do I WANT to see an economic recovery? Hell, yes! Do I think the corporate megalomaniacs who've usurped our media, our politics, AND our global economy are working toward a recovery that will rescue the Hoi Polloi? Not a snowball's chance.

The entire system IS broken! Our global economy IS undergoing catastrophic change. I find it disheartening that the 'leaders' and 'economists' continue to discuss this issue as though there is a 'solution' just around the corner.

We are witnessing a global cultural crisis, and some folks are just not ready to acknowledge that.

Time for change. I am ever more hopeful, now that #Occupy is spreading across the globe.

[FirstLight]

67. thank YOU!

awesome post so many of the points you make are right on target. and I too am only finding heart and hope in the Occupy movement, because at least they call a spade a spade! we all KNOW it is broken, but as long as people can continue to pretend they are doing okay, they will ignore it. It's those of us who are in the trenches struggling (and there's more of us every day) who are aware of how broken it really is.

and i for one cannot afford to uproot my children to go somewhere that jobs 'seem' to be growing...nor can I afford to re-train myself (again) to pursue the next big job boom..I did that a couple times already

somehow, someway, i just have to use the connections that i have managed to build locally and regionally and I have to help those I freelance for to do better in their businesses, then I will have more work...it's about all I can do at this point (that, and keep myself prepared for the worst...)

[chervilant]

86. Durn...

I have been monitoring the replies to your OP with more than a little trepidation. GLOBAL awareness of the dysfunction that contemporary corporatists call 'free market capitalism' is essential. I find it disheartening that so many DUers continue to snarf these 'steady recovery' red herrings. We can ill afford to base our current world view on the propaganda promulgated by the M$M and the political sock puppets for the Corporate Megalomaniacs.

BTW, in case you're not aware: many individuals who've 'gone back to school' find themselves un- or under- employed with a ginormous school loan, for which they're obligated to pay an exorbitant monthly amount as large or larger than a car payment. I would encourage everyone who thinks a return to school is a viable stop-gap during the coming decades of extreme austerity to research the exact amount of your monthly loan payments before you elect to return to school.

[uponit7771]

76. ''....Our hopey-changey prez..." You guys are overt these days

[chervilant]

79. Oh, really?

Last edited Sun Jan 8, 2012, 11:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Well, now, when veteran teachers protested Obama's appointment of Arne Duncan as SecEd, Mr. Obama patronizingly averred that we teachers are just 'resistant to change.' Tens of thousands of veteran teachers are now un- or under-employed in part because of Mr. Obama's education policies, which are a disappointing and ineffective continuation of NCLB.

I don't know exactly what you mean by "you guys," but I can tell you succinctly: denigrating, demeaning, or dismissing the concerns of Mr. Obama's critics is both disingenuous and offensive. Please commit your energy toward finding a solution, rather than indulging in sarcastic or condescending posts.

[Honeycombe8]

75. I don't know where your friend lives or what s/he does for a living, but we have jobs here....

in Dallas, TX. Depending on what your friend does. Cost of living is very reasonable, too.

If the jobs don't come to you, you must go to the jobs. That's how I ended up in Dallas during the last recession.

Come on down!!!!!!

[nobodyspecial]

77. Easy if your are mobile

Much harder for those who take care of others. Lots of people are taking care of elderly parents or have kids in school. Moving younger kids is not so bad, but middle school and older can mess up their academics and sports.

[Honeycombe8]

80. True. But the OP didn't say. Maybe the friend is mobile.

Unfortunately, kids have to move with the parents, if the parents have to move. Many parents have to move for job reasons....their company transfers them or they are in the military.

[RedOpinions]

82. The way I see it...

...People need to stop whining about not having jobs and there being a lack of jobs. Do something about it, move to Dallas, go back to school, stop wasting your money on things you don't need and live smart. Do your research and don't depend on others to solve your problem. The economy is rough, deal with it.

[chervilant]

84. OMG!

"The economy is rough, deal with it"?!?

Should I genuflect in your general direction, O Great and Powerful Random Blogger, for giving me a succinct solution to 3+ years of un- or under-employment? Forsooth, but for your humble post, I would not have known I could simply move to Dallas, go back to school, stop wasting my money on things I don't need, and live smart.

Golly jee-willikers, I'll just get right on that!

[ciaoant1]

83. The Onion: All Of Area Man's Hard Work Finally Pays Off For Employer

LOL

Following seven straight years of long hours at the office and sacrificed weekends and holidays, all of account manager Sam Hemstead's hard work and single-minded devotion to Pinnacle Automotive Insurance has finally paid off for CEO Charles Pardahee, Pardahee said Friday.

"There were definitely some nights I'd lie awake in bed and wonder, 'Is Sam absolutely killing himself day in and day out for nothing?'" Pardahee told reporters while driving to his weekend home in a recently purchased 2012 BMW luxury sedan. "But Sam just put his head down and never looked back, and this year his blood, sweat, and tears have proven profitable to the tune of a 15 percent larger bonus for myself."

"It just goes to show that if you're really passionate and dedicated, eventually it all comes back around to your superiors," Pardahee continued.

The stress-related physical and psychological tolls for Hemstead, 34, have been high, but the hypertension, weight-gain, and crippling migraine headaches he has suffered due to his rigorous work schedule have been worth the rewards he has reaped for his employer, Pardahee confirmed.

"I'm sure there were times when Sam wondered if it was all really worth it, especially considering he had to pay for a lot of his medication and doctor's visits out of his own pocket," said Pardahee, who in 2009 forced all his account managers to become contract employees so he would no longer have to provide them with health care benefits. "But he never complained once, and now that Sam has helped Pinnacle earn record profits by not taking a single day off for more than five years, I can finally relax and take another long vacation to Turks and Caicos. After all, Sam earned it for me."

The CEO added that nothing is more satisfying than a job well done by someone else.

While Hemstead's total devotion to the company has come at a steep personal cost, these too are reportedly acceptable considering the immense financial gains and professional accolades he has garnered for Pardahee.

"When Sam's wife filed for divorce and eventually won custody of his two daughters, he completely threw himself into his job in an attempt to cope as his life fell apart all around him," Pardahee said. "That was great, because it allowed me to drastically scale back my workload and spend even more time with my wife and children."

"Seeing most of his paycheck go to child support has made me really value all the things I can do with my kids because of Sam's hard work," Pardahee continued. "Considering all he continues to do for this company without even thinking about taking a break, he's afforded me all the time in the world to just enjoy life and not be defined by my job."

According to the CEO, Hemstead's contributions to Pinnacle Insurance will pay even greater dividends when he is let go and replaced with a college graduate willing to work for half the salary, allowing Pardahee to give himself a substantial raise.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/all-of-area-mans-hard-work-finally-pays-off-for-em,26957/

[taught_me_patience]

85. It is getting better, but you have to live in a city

I'd suggest moving to SF or LA if you can.

[FirstLight]

87. ...

clearly you missed upthread, where some of us discussed the pros & cons of that argument.
if you have children, harder to move, as a single parent, harder to re-establish support system (daycare, parent friends, etc), staying closer to extended family is also a survival move... not to mention, uprooting the family and then having to move BACK because the job dried up? Nothing is stable enough to base a move on these days.

personally, i have some connections in the valley where the population and commerce is far greater than a tourism town of less than 20K, but until i have a contract or a real gig with a salary i can live on, it's not gonna happen.